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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 120 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  2. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  3. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  4. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  5. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  6. David sat on the ________________.
  7. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  8. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  9. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  12. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  13. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  14. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  15. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  16. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  17. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  18. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  19. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  20. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  21. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  22. Did you ________________ the meat?
  23. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  24. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. root — of a plant
  2. pass — to spend time
  3. swing — music
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. swing — in golf
  6. swing — to play on
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. pass — to succeed
  9. pass — a permit
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. fine — all right
  12. bat — in an idiom
  13. season — of the year
  14. lie — to recline
  15. root — the cause
  16. fine — a penalty
  17. fine — high quality
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. season — in sport
  21. bat — for baseball
  22. season — to add flavour
  23. bat — the animal
  24. root — of a word

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com